Shoelace fastener



Dec. 4, 1962 H. EPSTEIN SHOELACE FASTENER Filed Feb. '7, 1961 F/GJO United States Patent ()tlice 3,066,370 Patented Dec. 4, 1962 3,066,370 SHOELACE FASTENER Harry Epstein, Saddle Brook, NJ. (21 Danna Way, Rochelle Par-la, NJ.) Filed Feb. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 87,656 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-117) This invention relates to shoelace fasteners.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved shoelace fastener structure which provides for a positive lace engagement 'without the need for tying knots and without the need for separate, relatively movable parts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved shoelace fastener which is readily manufactured with the use of mass production techniques and which requires a minimum of manufacturing steps.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lace fastener which can be made readily attractive to a selected consumer group.

A further object of the invention relates to the provision of techniques providing for a relatively positive lace engagement.

To achieve the above and other of its objectives the invention contemplates the provision of a shoelace fastener comprising a body with spaced holes therein, the said body including resilient portions defining slits communicating laterally with respective of the aforesaid holes whereby said shoelace can be drawn through the holes and laterally through said slits wherein the shoelace is grasped.

According to another aspect of the invention a shoelace fastener is provided which comprises a body of resilient material provided with spaced substantially parallel holes extending through the said body. This body is provided with blind bores parallel to the aforenoted holes, the holes tapering to slits at said bores and the bores tapering to slits at the exterior of the body whereby teeth are formed adjacent the aforesaid holes to grasp the shoelace when the same is drawn through aforenoted holes.

In accordance with still another aspect of the invention there is provided a shoe fastening arrangement comprising a body with holes therein and for operative association with a shoe having a lace thereon, the lace extending through the holes for engagement by the said body. As will be shown hereinafter enlarged portions are provided on the lace to prevent removal of the body therefrom.

It will be appreciated that Shoelaces are only exemplary of the various types of laces having common usage. Other types of laces with which the invention can be employed include by way of example, laces for leggings, for dresses, for coats and so forth. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide means and methods for the fastening of laces of all types.

Furthermore, it is to be noted that the invention relates to structures and methods for splicing together portions of line, cable, cord or the like and it is thus an object of the invention to provide improved means and methods for facilitating the connecting together of the ends of a line or the like in order to form a closed loop or to facilitate the splicing together of the ends of two lines so as to join the lines together.

The above objects as well as further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view of a laced shoe with a shoelace fastener provided in accordance with the invention about to be applied to the said shoelace;

FIGURE 2 is a pictorial view corresponding to that of FIG. 1 with the fastener applied to the said shoelace;

FIGURE 3 is a pictorial view corresponding to those of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the fastener in position and the shoelace secured;

FIGURE 4 is a front plan view of the shoelace fastener provided in accordance 'with a preferred embodiment of the invention on enlarged scale;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the structure of FIG. 4 illustrating the hidden holes and openings with dotted lines;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line VI IIVIII of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along line IXIX of FIG. 4; and

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG. 4.

In FIGS. l-3 of the drawing is illustrated a shoe S provided with laces L, the laces L being adapted for insertion through holes H in the fastener F provided in accordance with the invention. The laces are adapted for being grasped in the slits T provided in the lateral edges of the fastener F.

In FIG. 1 the pictorial view illustrates the fastener F about to be applied to the extremities of the lace L.

FIG. 2 illustrates the fastener F applied to the lace L and provided with enlarged portions B such as beads or knots which prevent the fastener F from being removed from the lace L so that a semi-permanent arrangement is afforded.

In FIG. 2 it wiil be noted that the forces applied to the extremities of the lace L as indicated by the arrows R result in vectors which as a natural consequence urge the fastener F towards the tongue 0 of the shoe S so that the fastener F normally tends towards the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3 the lace L is shown as extending laterally from the holes H in the fastener F and as being engaged in the slits T as will hereinafter be illustrated in greater detail.

FIGS. 4-10 illustrate the details of the fastener provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention on enlarged scale.

Preferably the fastener consists of a disc or body 10 of resilient material such as a comparatively hard rubber or a synthetic plastic.

The disc is preferably shaped as a head having an upper surface provided with facial features such as those of a clown or the like.

More particularly, the face may have a mouth 12, a nose 14, a hat I6, ears 18 and eyebrows 20 and is provided according to the invention with a set of eyes 22 and 24 in the form of holes extending through the disc 10.

The eyes or holes 22 and 24 are preferably spaced parallel holes having a diameter, for example, of seven sixty-fourths of an inch.

Adjacent to the holes 22 and 24 are a pair of openings 26 and 28 which preferably take the form of blind bores extending only partially through said disc 10. These bores may, for example, have a diameter of about three sixty-fourths of an inch.

Extending from the hole 22 to the bore 26 is a tapered groove 30 terminating at the bore 26 in a slit 32.

Similarly, extending laterally from the hole 24 to the bore 28 is a tapered groove 34 terminating in a slit 36.

The bore 26 opens laterally to the peripheral edge or exterior of the disc -10 by means of a tapered groove 38 terminating in a slit 40 at the peripheral edge of said disc.

Similarly, the bore 28 opens into a tapered groove 42 terminating at the peripheral edge of disc 10 in a slit 44.

is drawn through holes 22 and 24. Moreover, slits 32,

36, 40 and 44 define a line along which the disc it may be flexed.

In addition to the above structure, the fastener may also include holes having countersunk openings 53 and 60. These holes may serve to accommodate the lace tips if desired, especially in case the laces are not shortened and provided with enlarged portions B. Conically shaped openings 58 and 6t serve to guide the lace tips into said holes.

Finally, regarding the teeth 46, 48, t), 52 and so forth, it will be noted that these teeth will flex open while the lace is being pulled outwardly therebetween and that when the lace is released these teeth close and very firmly grasp the lace. Further, forces such as result from Walking'and so forth will tend to force these teeth more tightly against the associated lace thus preventing loosening.

As can be seen from the above description, therefore, a method of manufacturing a shoelace fastener is provided in accordance with the invention which comprises forming first spaced holes through a body of resilient material, forming second holes in this body adjacent but spaced from the first said holes, and forming tapered openings between the first and second said holes respectively and between said second holes and the exterior of "the body thereby forming yieldably positioned teeth between the first said holes and the exterior of the body.

From the above description, it can also be seen that there is provided in accordance with the invention a shoe "lace fastener which comprises a body with spaced hole therein, the body including resilient portions defining slits communicating laterally with respective of the aforesaid *holes whereby a shoelace can be drawn through these holes and laterally through the slits wherein the shoelace "is grasped.

disc can be appropriately and decoratively colored to improve the attractiveness of the device. It will also be clear that the disc can take other plainer forms for adult use such as might be appropriate in cold regions where the wearing of gloves makes difficult the tying of bows.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications and variations of the structures and methods set forth above. These modifications and variations will not, however, depart from the scope of the invention if they lie within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A shoelace fastener comprising a body of resilient material provided with spaced substantially parallel holes extending therethrough, said body being further provided with blind bores parallel to said holes and with grooves between said holes and bores and tapering to slits at said bores, said body being still further provided with grooves extending from said bores and tapering to slits at the exterior of said body whereby teeth are formed adjacent said holes to grasp a shoelace drawn through said holes, said slits, bores and holes being rectilinearly aligned.

2. A shoelace fastener comprising a body of resilient material provided with spaced substantially parallel holes extending therethrough, said body being further provided with blind bores parallel to said holes, said body further having tapered grooves connecting said holes to said bores and opening as slits into the latter, said body further having grooves extending from said bores and tapering to slits at the exterior of said body whereby teeth are formed adjacent said holes and bores to grasp a shoelace drawn through said holes, said holes, bores and grooves being in a linear alignment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,650,399 Torelli Sept. 1 1953 2,783,515 Tobias Mar. 5, 1957 2,813,323 Civ-itelli Nov. 19, 1957 2,845,673 Weis Aug. 5, 1958 2,911,698 Henderson Nov. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 792,802 France Oct. 28, 1935 565,715 Germany May 5, 1932 that" a 

